OfferBackedBuyer Tools
Step 1 · Thinking about buying

Where are towns like the one I love?

Enter a town you like, or the one you’re leaving, and find the places most like it: similar incomes, home prices, commute, age of homes and more. Look nearby, in other states or only where homes cost less.

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Towns most like Shelby, MS 38774

Shelby: median income $19,811, home value $90,400, 39-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Allendale, SC 29810 83%548$26,835$79,600$97 larger
Williamson, WV 25661 77%541$25,014$94,900$63 larger · older residents · 5 min shorter commute
Waterproof, LA 71375 74%152$24,231$59,200— cheaper homes ($31K less) · smaller · more homeowners
Clio, SC 29525 70%642$28,618$70,200— older residents
Mamou, LA 70554 68%248$28,638$93,400$51 larger · 6 min shorter commute
Pineville, SC 29468 66%614$27,032$98,900$171 older residents · newer homes
Pembroke Township, IL 60958 66%521$32,153$99,100$112 older residents
Vivian, LA 71082 66%199$27,616$66,600$96 larger · 6 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Sawyerville, AL 36776 65%193$16,765$74,200— 11 min longer commute · newer homes
Rupert, WV 25984 62%629$27,183$82,100$110 12 min shorter commute
Shonto, AZ 86054 62%1,134$24,063$77,800— older residents · more homeowners · newer homes
Booneville, KY 41314 61%468$25,911$98,500$134 larger · older residents · 6 min shorter commute
Columbus, NM 88029 61%989$26,090$105,600$56 older residents · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Richland, GA 31825 60%376$28,698$73,100— larger · more apartments and townhomes · newer homes
Beaver, OH 45613 60%562$30,703$159,700$139 pricier homes ($69K more) · larger
Haynesville, LA 71038 60%151$25,958$83,200$83 larger · older residents · 12 min shorter commute
Uniontown, AL 36786 59%216$33,375$70,800— 6 min shorter commute
Cottonport, LA 71327 59%218$31,953$95,800$75 larger
Niland, CA 92257 59%1,431$22,611$102,200— older residents · 5 min shorter commute · more apartments and townhomes
Tyler, AL 36785 58%252$29,619$104,700— smaller · 8 min shorter commute · more homeowners
Bradshaw, WV 24817 57%555$25,363$50,800— cheaper homes ($40K less) · younger residents · more homeowners
Eutaw, AL 35462 57%179$31,528$94,900$175 larger · 9 min shorter commute · more renters
Angie, LA 70426 57%216$29,821$126,600$98 pricier homes ($36K more) · larger · 5 min shorter commute
Bunkie, LA 71322 57%228$27,030$97,500$67 larger · older residents · 7 min shorter commute
Cleveland, VA 24225 56%528$27,826$102,100$252 older residents · 6 min shorter commute

Similarity compares income, home value, price per sq ft, population, age, commute, education, walkability, owner share, single-family share and age of homes. Click a town to see its housing market. Set your own criteria with the town finder.

Finding towns like the one you love

Maybe you grew up somewhere you loved and want something like it closer to a new job. Maybe the town you want is out of reach and you’re looking for a cheaper version of it. Or you’re moving across the country and want to know which places will feel familiar. This tool starts from a town you know and finds the places most like it.

How we measure similarity

We compare eleven things for every ZIP code: median household income, median home value, price per square foot from recent sales, population, median age, average commute, the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree, walkability, the share of homes that are owner-occupied, the share that are single-family homes, and the median year homes were built. Income and home values count most, because they shape what a place costs and feels like day to day.

Each trait is put on the same scale, so a $50,000 difference in home value and a five-minute difference in commute can be compared fairly. The result is a similarity score: towns in the 90s are close matches on nearly everything, and scores in the 70s are similar with a few clear differences. For each match we list the biggest differences, like cheaper homes, a longer commute or more single-family homes.

Where to look

  • Anywhere shows the closest matches nationwide.
  • Same state or other states keeps the search where you need it.
  • Within a distance finds alternatives near a town you’re priced out of.
  • At least a distance away finds the same kind of place somewhere new.

Tick “only towns where homes cost less” to find more affordable versions of the place you like.

What it can’t tell you

Numbers can’t capture everything that makes a place feel like home: a walkable downtown, the schools, the views or the people. Use the matches as a short list, then visit. Click any town to see its housing market, including how competitive it is and how fast homes are selling.